Lantern



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. G. GRIFFITH.

LANTBRN.

No. 408,614. yPatented Aug. 6, 1889.

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H. G. GRIFFITH.

LANTBRN.

No. 408,814. Patented Augj, 1889.

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A UNrrnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIUMPHREY GORDON GRIFFITH, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,614, dated August 6, 1889.

Application tiled August 15, 1888. Serial No. 282,765. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HUMPHREY GORDON GRIFFITH, of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State `of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lanterns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in lanterns, and refers especially to that class known as dark and signal lanterns; and it consists in the combination and arrangement of parts more fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

The objects of my invention are to produce a dark or signal lantern having a revolving shade or shutter which is automatically operated by the pressure of the hand upon the handles, and by which it is carried; to adapt the lantern to be carried by either the bail connected to its top or the ordinary handles connected to the back side of the case, and to so connect both the bails and handles, by means of a `suitable mechanism, with the shade or shutter that the shutter can be automatically operated by the hand carrying the lantern, whether it be carried by either the bails or handles, and thus dispense with the necessity of using one hand for carrying the lantern and the other for operating the shutter; to so connect both the bails and handles to the shade or shutter that when one is being used to operate the shutter the other will not interfere in any manner with their. operation; to so connect both the bails and handles to the shutter that the ones not being used to carry and operate the lantern can be folded against the case out of the way, and to so construct the shutter that it will revolve more freely than in other lanterns of this class heretofore constructed.

Figure l is a side elevation of a lantern embodying` my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe lower portion of the case and the shutter, showing the lamp' placed therein. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the lower ends of the Operatingbails and the upper end of the lever operated thereby. Fig. 6 is a detached elevation showing a slight modification of the manner of connecting the bails to the top of the lantern. Figs. '7 and 8 are side elevations of the shutter. Figs. 9 and l0 are plan views of the shutter and supporting-disk. Fig. l1 is a detail vertical section of the lower portion of the frame d, showing a portion of the casing.

A represents the outside case, which should be opaque, and inside of which is placed the shade or shutter B. Upon the top of the case A are the cowls C, just above the little opening a: in the case-top f.

D is the lamp, which is placed in the open bottom of the case A.

E is the lens, glass, or transparency, fixed, preferably, to a door o, attached to the side of the case A by means of the hinges p p, and is held in a closed position by means of the latch q.

F is aslotted pin attached to the side of the shutter B near its lower end, and extends outward through a slot t, made in the outer case A. Connected in the slot of the pin F by means of a rivet is the lever or connectingrod G, the opposite end of which rod is pivoted or jointed near the outer end of the arm H. This arm H is rigidly connected to the vertical spring-actuated rod Y, which is j ournaled at its upper and lower ends in the bearings V, secured to the outer side of the case A, near its upper and lowerends. Surrounding this shaft Y is the spiral spring Z, which has its upper end bent outward and bears against the outer side of the case A, as at a2, and its lower end formed into a lever, the outer end of which is bent downward and passesthrough an opening in the lever H, or bears against it at any suitable point between the spring-actuated rod Y and its outer end, to which the lever G is connected, and forces the arm H toward the pin F.

I is a horizontal connecting-rod jointed or pivoted at one end to the spring-actuated arm H at a suitable point, and which has its opposite end jointed to the connection U, to which the swinging depending lever T is also connected.

K is a connecting-rod having one end connected to the spring-actuated lever H at any suitable point between its outer end and the rod Y, and its opposite end secured to the op- IOO erating-handle L. This rod K is slotted, preferably at the end which connects with the lever H, as shown, so as to allow the operating back handle L to be folded or closed back against the side of the case A, out of the way, without moving the shade or shutter, which is normally held in a closed position by means of the spring Z, thus keeping the light from outside view through the lens or window E. This slot also allows the operating-handle L to be separated from the handle M sufficiently far to allow the insertion of the lingers of one hand to use the operating-handle L, while the palm of the same hand back near the thumb will be inside of the free-resting handle M, and thus the shade B will be still kept closed by the retracting-spring Z. This spring Z is sufficiently stiff to keep the handle L separated from the handle M through the medium of the rod K and arm H, when the lantern is being held up or carried by them. It is also stift enough to keep the top handles or bails R and S apart through the medium of the lever T, rod I, and arm H, when the lantern is being only held or carried by them. The handle M has its upper end bent, as shown at N, so as to form a stop to prevent it from being drawn toward the handle L when the two handles are being tightly clasped.

lVhen the lantern is to be carried by the handles L and M, a tight grasp will bring the handle L near to the one M, and through the medium of the rod K, arms H, and lever G, which is connected to the shade. B by means of the pin F, the shade will be turned around, so as to bring the opening made therein opposite the lens or window in the door O and llow the light to pass out through the win- The normal position of the shade B, by means of the spring Z, is always closed, and hence when the hand is relaxed and the spring Z is allowed to eXert its pressure the handle L is separated from the one M, and by means of the arm H secured to the springactuated rod Y, and the lever G, secured tothe shutter B, the shutter is returned to its normal closed position. Secured to the back and outer side of the case A is the frame d.

The back handles L and M are journaled in the bearings WV, secured to the frame cl at its upper and lower corners, as shown. One end of the handle L is turned to one side, so as to form a crank, and has its extreme end turned upward, so as to form a pin X, on which turns the slotted lever K. This lever K is here shown as slotted at the end nearest the arm H; but it will be readily understood that the slot can be made in its opposite end and the operation of the lever remain the same.

Secured to the inside of the case A, near its bottom, is the disk Q, which is provided with the beaded edge O at its center, which forms a bearing for the disk P, which forms the bottom of the shade or shutter B. The

'lisk P, which forms the bottom of the shutter,

and also the disk Q, which is secured inside of the case A, near its lower end, may be either perforated, as shown in Fig. 10, or composed of arms, as shown in Fig. 9, and the disk P provided with a central opening O', through which the beaded edge O passes. This construction, however, it will be readily understood, can be reversed by forming the bead upon the disk P and passing through an opening in the disk Q, instead of forming it upon the disk Q, as here shown.

The wick-tube b of the lamp D passes upward through the beaded opening in the disk Q. The lamp D is provided with the pins or projections k upon opposite sides thereof, and which, when the lamp is being placed in position in the bayonetfshaped slots m, is given a partial revolution, which forces the pins k under the springs l, which are secured to the outer side of the casing A. The springs lare provided with one or more holes or perforations, into which the pins k pass. The pins 7c are beveled upon that side which comes in contact with the springs Zwhen the lamp is being turned into position, and by this means forces the springs outward as the lamp is being turned around, but which spring instantly inward as soon as the pins 7c register with the openings formed therein. By this means of attaching the lamp in the lower end of the lantern it cannotberemoveduntil the springs are raised outward sufficiently to disengage the pins 7c from the openings made therein.

Secured to the top of the case f of the lantern are the cars or lugs g g, which form bearings for the bails R S. The operating-bail R is hinged to these ears or projections by means of the rivets J, and which has one of its lower ends bent outward, so as to form a bearing 7L, which operates upon the depending or swinging rod T; also pivoted upon the same rivet as the bail R is the bail S, which has. its lower ends bent inward, as shown in Fig. l, so as to form a stop to limit its movement, or its lower ends pass downward, as shown in Fig. G, for the same purpose. The swinging rod T is preferably pivoted upon the same rivet as the bails R S, and extends downward between the frame d and the case A, and has its lower end secured to the connection U. I here show the bails R and S and depending or swinging rod T pivoted upon the same rivet or bearing; but, if so preferred, they can be pivoted upon diiferent ones. The normal position of the bails R S is slightly separated, so that when the lantern is held only by the bails the spring Z is suiiciently strong to prevent them from being brought together by the weight of the lantern alone. When it is desired to operate the shutter-by means of these bails, it is only necessary to grasp them tightly, which draws the bail R toward the bail S, forcing the end or bearing h of the bail R against the depending rod or lever T below its upper pivotal point, thus forcing its lower end to the right. As thc lower end of the lever T moves to the right,

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the lever G, which is connected to the shutter, is also moved in the same direction through the medium of the rod I, which is connected to the connection U and lever I-I, thus causing the shutter-B to revolve, bringing the opening therein opposite the window or lens E, and allowing the light to pass outward through it. Vhen it is desired to shut the light from outward view, it is only necessary to relax the grasp of the hand upon the bails R S, when they will immediatelybe separated by the retraction of the spring Z and return the shutter B to itsnormal closed position. Both of the top bails or handles R and S are free to dropdown upon opposite sides of the top f when the lantern is not in use, or is being carried by the back handles L and M, or issecured to the belt, so as to be out of the way. The upper end ofthe lever T passes through a slot t', made in the upper end of the frame CZ.

Both of the bails R and S, and also the lever or rod T, may all be journaled or pivoted upon a shatt J 2, which will extend across the top of the lantern,as shown in Fig. G. In this case the bail R will be iixed to the shaft J 2, so that when it is caused to movi, the shaft J will be made to partially revolve, and thus lessen the strain on that side of the lever R next to the depending lever or rod T, which lever T, and also the bail S, are free to turn upon the shaft J2.

In Fig. 5, h is the upper end of the depending lever T, which is turned to one side, and bears against the bail R for the purpose of distributing the strain upon the lever T both above and below its pivotal point. The outturned end h of the bail R, however, may be dispensed with when the upper end of the depending lever or rod T is bentinward, as shown at h. The passage of air for combustion of the iialne of the lamp passes through the openings 7, made in the lower end of the frame d,

and slot n, made in the case A, as shown in Fig. 1l. The slot n is made, preferably, at a point between the lamp-top and the lower edge of the shutter B, thus allowing air to pass up through the beaded edge O of the disk Q directly to the liiame ofthe lamp. In this manner sufiicient air will be supplied to the lamp for combustion, While the air-passages are almost entirely surrounded by the frame d, and thus exclude the light from outside View. v

c is a hook, which is fastened below the edge at its upper end to the frame d for the purpose ot' hooking to the belt, and e is a beltcatch fastened to the frame d to bear lagainst the lower edgeof the belt and prevent the lantern from becomingunhooked.

In Fig. '7 I show a reliector partly spherical or parabolic in shape, and in which case no4 magnifying-lens is required; but a plain fiat piece of glass of equal thickness will do for the window by placing the light in t-he proper position before a reflector of such a form that the light will be reflected-forward in straight `lines parallel with each other. This reflector may or may not be secured to the shutter B, as may be'preferred. I preferably make this shutter full, round, or cylindrical at some point or points of its bearing against the inside of the opaque case A for the purposev of facilitating and increasing the ease of movement ot' the Ashutter when being revolved.

My shade or shutter, being preferably a complete circle at some suitable place or places to guide it and ease the operation of it and turning on a central axis, lits neater all around at all times and is kept in its proper place in the case, and consequently will operate more smoothly and quickly.

A lantern of the construction herelnbefore described is better adapted to the various uses for which lanterns of this species are specially intended, since but one hand is required to operate it, thus leaving the other hand of the operator entirely free for other uses or purposes, as is often wanted and exceedingly convenient. This construction also affords a means for operating the lantern which is not tiring to the hand.

When it is desired to keep the lantern always open, as its normal position is closed, a hook 3 is secured to the outer side of the case A and dropped over the pin F for holding it in the desired position.

I know dark-lanterns have been lnadewith a door hinged and latched to the case, and within the case a movable segmental cylinder, shade, or shutter attached to one end of an operating-pin extending through a slot in the side of the case, having cowls over the top of the case and a frame to the back of the case, with a belt-hook and a catch fixed tothe frame, and with handles at the back of the lantern, none of which in this instance is claimed by me, except in connection with my improvements for operating the shutter.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim 1.,In a lantern, the combination, with the outer case adapted to receive a lamp and providedwith an opening in its side through which the light passes, and a slot, of arevolving shutter placed therein, provided with an operatingpin which projects through the slot, a handle pivot-ed upon the lantern, and a rod connecting the handle and the shutter, whereby the shutter is operated by the movement of the handle, for thepurpose set forth.

2. In a lantern, the combination, with a slotted case adapted to receive a lamp and provided with an opening through its side through which the light passes, and the disk Q, having a central aperture the edge of which is turned up to Jform a bearing, and through which opening the wick-tube passes, of a cylindrical revolving shutter having an opening to register with the opening in the side of the case, a disk at its lower end having a central aperture iitting over the upturned edge of the aperture in the disk Q, and a pin which Vprojects through the slot in the ease IOO for operating the shutter, whereby a simple bearing is formed for the shutter, substantially as shown.

3. In a lantern, the combination of the slotted case having an openin g in its side through which the light passes and adapted to receive a la1np,a revolving shutter placed therein having an opening, a pin upon the shutter extending through the slot in the case, a handle pivoted to the case, connections between the handle and the pin, and a second handle pivoted near the said first handle having a limited movement, whereby, when the two handles are brought together, the shutter is caused to partially revolve, substantially as set forth.

4. In a lantern, the combination of the slotted case having an opening in its side, a revolving cylindrical shutter placed therein, having an opening in its side, an operatingpin which passes through the slot formed in the case, ahaudle pivoted upon the case, and aspring-actuated rod connecting the shutter and the handle, whereby the shutter is made to close the opening in the case when the handle is not operated, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the case A, shutter B, jonrnaled therein, having pin F, the vertical spring-actuated rod Y, journaled upon the case, the arm H, secured thereto, the handles M L, pivoted to the case, and the levers K G, for connecting the handles and the pin F together, whereby, when the handle L is operated, the shutter is given a partial revolution, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the case having an opening for the passage of light, a revolving shutter placed therein having an opening for the passage of light, the slot t in the case, pin F, connected to the shutter, vertical rod Y, lever G, arm II, secured to the rod Y, lever K, connecting the arm l-I and the handle L, the handles L M, pivoted to the case, and the spiral spring Z, surrounding the rod Y, having its upper end bearing upon the case and its lower end formed into a lever a and bent downward so as to engage the arm II, for returning the shutter to position when the grasp upon the handles L M is released, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a case having an opening through its side, a revolving shutter placed therein, having an opening in its side, the pin F, slot z", lever G, spring-actuated rod Y, arm H, lever K, thehandle M, pivoted to the case and having a limited movement, and the handle L, pivoted to the case and having its lower end formed into a crank X and engagin g the lever K, whereby, when the handle L is operated, the shutter is caused to partially revolve, for the purpose specified.

S. The combination of the slotted case having an opening in its side, a revolving shutter placed therein, provided with an operating-pin which projects through the slot made in the lower end of the case and an opening in its side, the handles L M, pivoted to the back side of the case, the lever G, springactuated rod Y, arm H, and the lever K, connecting the arm H and handle L, said lever provided with a longitudinal slot, whereby the handle L can be separated from the one M and folded against the side of the case, out of the way, substantially as described.

9. In a lantern, the combination of the slot-ted case provided with an opening in its side, a revolving shutter placed therein, having an opening, and an operating-pin which projects through the slot in the lower end of the case, the operating-bail R, engaging the lever T, the bail S, having a limited movement, and the lever T, connecting-rod I, arm H, spring-actuated rod Y, and the lever Q, connecting the arm Hand operating-pin F, whereby, when the bail R is operated, the shutter is given a partial revolution, for the purpose specified.

10. In a lantern, the combination of a slotted case having an opening for the passage of light, a revolving shutter placed therein, provided with an opening in its side, and an operating-pin projecting through the slot, the lever G, arm H, spring-actuated rod Y, conneeting-rod I, pivoted to the lower end of the lever T, the lever T, pivoted upon the upper end of the case, and the bails R S, pivoted to the upper end of the case, the bail R engaging the lever T, whereby, when it is operated,the shutter is given a partial revolution, for the purpose substantially as set forth.

1l. In a lantern, the combination of the case provided with a revolving shutter for the purpose described, the frame d, secured to its rear side, the disks P Q, secured in the shutter and case, respectively, the case having a slot or opening opposite the space between the two disks, and pcrforations in its bottom for the admission of air to the opening, whereby air for combustion is fed directly to the flame, substantially as shown and described.

l2. In alantern, the combination of the case provided with a revolving shutter for the purpose described, an operating-pin secured to the shutter and which projects through an opening in the case, the lever G, arm H, springactuated rod Y, connecting-rod I, lever T, ears g g, secured to the top of the case, and the bails R S and lever T, journaled upon the same bearing which passes through the ears, the bail S having its lower ends extending below its pivotal point to form a stop, the bail R having one of its lower ends to extend below its pivotal point and which engages the lever T, whereby, when the bail R is operated, the shutter is given a partial revolution, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my sign at ure in presence of two witnesses.

HUMIIIREY GORDON GRIFFITH.

Vitnesses:

WILLIAM J. M cCULLoUGH, GEO. E. HERETH.

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